KAMPALA, Uganda — In a dramatic development within Uganda’s political landscape, opposition leader Bobi Wine has confirmed his departure from the country to evade what he describes as a military-led manhunt following the disputed presidential election held on January 15.
The prominent opposition figure, legally named Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, emerged from weeks of concealment through a video message posted on social media platform X this Saturday. Appearing with visible stubble, Wine announced his successful exit from Uganda while maintaining secrecy regarding his current whereabouts.
This flight from his homeland comes amid escalating tensions with Uganda’s military establishment, particularly with General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the nation’s army chief and son of long-serving President Yoweri Museveni. General Kainerugaba has repeatedly utilized social media to issue threatening statements against Wine, labeling him a ‘terrorist’ and ‘baboon’ while suggesting he faces unspecified criminal charges.
The official election results declared President Museveni victorious with 71.6% of the vote, outcomes that Wine and his supporters vehemently reject as fraudulent. Wine’s campaign had been marked by extraordinary security measures, including appearances in helmet and flak jacket at rallies where government security forces maintained a conspicuous presence.
In his video address, Wine expressed gratitude to his supporters: ‘Fellow Ugandans and friends of Uganda all over the world, by the time you see this video I will have left the country for some critical engagements outside Uganda. I thank all of you fellow Ugandans who have concealed and protected me for all this time when the regime was looking for me.’
The 81-year-old Museveni is scheduled to be sworn in for his seventh term in May, potentially extending his leadership toward five decades. While supporters credit his administration with maintaining relative stability that has made Uganda a refuge for hundreds of thousands fleeing regional violence, opposition figures increasingly condemn what they perceive as escalating authoritarianism.